Apple TV 4K bluetooth range diminished

Just received and setup my new Apple TV 4K today. I regularly use AirPods to listen to the TV while moving around the family room and kitchen at night. As soon as I paired my AirPods with the Apple TV I immediately noticed a huge difference in the range and clarity of the audio signal. I would estimate it is at least half the range as with my previous Apple TV (4th gen).


Nothing else has changed in my setup. I just swapped out the Apple TV. Anyone else noticing a difference? Based on specs (and the upgrade to Bluetooth 5.0) the range should have improved.

Posted on Sep 22, 2017 9:17 PM

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Posted on Sep 26, 2017 7:33 AM

I believe I fixed my issue...


I had my Apple TV mounted just behind my TV so it was out of site. I tried moving it to well below the TV away from any other devices and it made a big difference. So it does seem that the Apple Remote is susceptible to interference from other devices. My TV is an LG 65UH9500 and has WiFi and BT so that could explain the interference.


This could be related to issues with other BT devices as well.

83 replies

Jan 15, 2018 8:44 AM in response to Apple user since 1988

I can confirm this, not with the AirPods, but with the Schlage Sense Bluetooth door locks.

The Apple TV 4th generation works on the 2 door locks great, purchased Apple TV 4K, only one door lock works now since it's the closest to the 4K unit. I swapped it back to the 4th Generation, now both door locks connect, I need the remote access on the homekit and not the TV video functions...lol Now I have a Apple TV 4K not being productive.

Sep 25, 2017 8:19 PM in response to Apple user since 1988

I got a new Apple TV today. They said I had a V4 and I bought a V6 (V means version and it is in the serial number). The new Apple TV is giving me the same problem. This means it is more likely to be a software issue. I have a case open with Apple support. They are supposed to call me tomorrow night for a follow up. I sent them analytic type reports that my Apple TV created. Hopefully they will get this resolved.

Oct 3, 2017 9:21 PM in response to Apple user since 1988

Has anyone made any progress here? This problem remains for me. It seems to be an issue with the Apple TV 4K, not the individual Bluetooth devices. I’ve tried a few things:


  • Siri Remote (included) - needs a straight line of sight to the Apple TV, any obstruction results in disruption of signal, and even sometimes with no obvious obstruction it does not work properly. Have paired/unpaired multiple times.
  • Siri Remote (from prior Apple TV) - suffers from the same problems when paired with 4K, though it’s fine with the prior Apple TV
  • Beats Solo 3 Wireless - lose connection at a much shorter range than prior version
  • Moving the Apple TV 4K - I’ve adjusted the position of the device to ensure it’s open and free from any object interference. My television lacks any option to disable Bluetooth.
  • Updating - Updated to the Public Beta 11.1, Bluetooth problems persist


Again, I didn’t have any of these issues with the prior Apple TV located in the same position connected to the same TV.

Oct 17, 2017 7:12 AM in response to Apple user since 1988

tvOS 11.1 beta 3 has not resolved the issue fully for me.

The AirPods seem slightly better, but are not as good as my 4th gen AppleTV in the same exact spot.

The issue with the Siri remote is not improved at all.


For those of you stating that it is fixed - just double check to make sure you have your video settings set back to 4K HDR. I thought mine was fixed at first, but then I remembered I had changed the video settings.

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Apple TV 4K bluetooth range diminished

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